IEPA’s New Soil Removal Regulation: Impacts to a Project Approach

In a time of increased environmental awareness, as construction professionals it is essential we become more cognizant of the excess soil that is removed from our jobsites. As of August 2012, The IEPA began requiring that an analytical test be performed on soil that is being removed from a jobsite and placed in a landfill to verify it is CCDD (Clean Construction Demolition Debris) or determine if the soil contains potential contaminants. The premium cost to dispose of soil that has any element above the IEPA allowable levels is substantial and could have large financial consequences on a project.

Surprises in our industry are usually not welcome, much less one that could contain considerable unforeseen cost. At ICI, we have begun to recommend that while the soil testing is being conducted for the soil bearing capacities, the environmental test also be completed. If the test results indicate that the soil contains one of the many elements that are above the IEPA allowable levels, the potential cost can be planned for during the preconstruction stages of the project.

It is always important to eliminate the unknowns and early planning for the soil test will assist in eliminating one more unknown.